UP extends weather-warning system contract

Union Pacific Railroad March 6 agreed to a two-year contract extension with Minneapolis-based Meteorlogix to continue using the company's MxInsight RailWatch™, a custom weather-warning notification system designed to minimize or eliminate significant damage, delays and injuries caused by weather-related derailments.UP uses MxInsight RailWatch at dispatch centers to obtain real-time weather data across its network. The Geographic Information System-based, weather-enabled decision-support system is designed to provide customized weather notifications that coincide with precise train and track locations."With approximately 2,400 trains running across approximately 39,000 miles of track, the ability to briefly delay trains threatened by inclement weather has already saved us millions of dollars," said Kevin Crowe, UP manager of systems development and support, in a prepared statement.